I have spent considerable time in the archives, and in general searches of the Internet, trying to determine what seems to me a most critical piece of information: How short a lens can one put on a give camera? The information is out there in bits and pieces, but without sufficient detail to be authoritative.
If I missed it, I would welcome someone telling me where to look.
But in case I haven't where this has been done before, then I'll start.
Cambo SC and Calumet 45: Will focus a 65mm Super Angulon if both standards are on one side of the tripod mount, and if bag bellows and a recessed lens board are used. The bag bellows OR the recessed lens board are required for a 90mm Super Angulon. In addition to everything needed for the 65, the camera will focus a 47mm Super Angulon only if the rear standard is reversed, which requires the back to be vertically oriented (else the U-frame blocks the film-holder opening).
Sinar F F+ F1 and F2: Will focus a 47mm Super Angulon using a flat lens board and bag bellows (Wide Angle Bellows 1 works). Both standards must be on the same side of the tripod mount. Care is required to make sure the bellows are not folded up between the standards, or they will lean out at the top when trying to squeeze those folds. The Wide Angle Bellows 2 may make that a bit easier. For the 47, a recessed lens board avoids having to move the standards to one side of the tripod mount, and avoids the problem of having to fiddle with the bellows. The 65mm Super Angulon on a flat board focuses on a Sinar F using the bag bellows with no issue and with the standards in the usual position.
I would have included a 58mm SA in my analysis, except that I don't own one. And, with some cameras, a 75 might be good to test as well.
It's rather amazing how much I had to search to determine that the Sinar F would do what I wanted. And even then, everyone said it would focus the 47 just fine except for one fellow, who said it wouldn't even focus the 65. That guy must have had the standard bellows, and the first guys just forgot to mention that you have to reconfigure the camera to use the 47. Since I would like to use it for roll film, these lenses are not really all that short. It's also rather amazing at how little the camera manufacturers say about it, except in secondary measures such as minimum bellows draw.
If folks just added a paragraph or two to describe their view cameras (only common brands will have much efficacy for future searchers, it seems to me), this thread could perhaps help folks like me out in the future.
Oh, and see my wanted-to-buy post for a Sinar recessed board that hasn't already been drilled too large for a #00 shutter.
Rick "respectfully submitted" Denney
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